Used to show that the thing just referred to is not ideal or does not support the argument, but that the situation cannot be improved upon, or the speaker is unwilling to try.
2003, S. Gulie, Quicktime for the Web, Morgan Kaufmann, page 136:
Streaming a movie prevents any but the most dedicated and well-equipped hacker from making a digital copy (pointing a camera at the screen still works, but hey).
2004, R. Broadhead, Dear Valued Customer, You Are A Loser, Andrews McMeel Publishing, page 89:
I am pretty sure it's another computer glitch, but hey, it's not my fault and it's perfectly legal.
2007, Jim Burnett, Hey Ranger 2: More True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from the Great Outdoors[1], page 101:
By that time they had navigated about 120 miles of the Green River, almost twice their planned run for the day—but hey, time flies when you're having fun.
Typically followed by a justification, explanation or excuse for the circumstances referred to. Also used with nothing following it, in which case it indicates that the situation should just be accepted.
